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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Brooklyn Navy Yard

April 28, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, summer has come early to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, as we're all experiencing right now, but this is a good sign because something really great is happening here. And you can feel it all around you. I loved what you said, Matthew. You said, it's an ideology. I really – that struck me. That there's a real way of thinking here about what we can do locally, about the ability to create things here in Brooklyn, with people who live in Brooklyn, fueling so much of this work. And it's a new approach that offers tremendous possibility for New York City. Matthew is passionate about this work, and I love that. He pointed out that what is being done right here is a new kind of manufacturing that actually allows us to restore modern manufacturing here in New York City. This was once one of the greatest manufacturing hubs in the world. And then conventional wisdom told us it was gone forever, but guess what? That wasn't right. There's a new way. And you see it right here. And it's a new way that's going to create a lot of jobs for Brooklynites and for New Yorkers, which we love.

[Applause]

And it’s a new way that is going to make us less dependent on what's happening all over the world. Matthew and I were talking about globalization has its joys and sorrows. But we saw some of the sorrows during COVID. When we couldn't get what we needed, when we – this city, greatest city in the world, we could not get the medical supplies and equipment we needed to protect our people. Because the global supply chain wasn't working. Well here at Nanotronics, you have an example, a do-it-yourself example, a make your own way example. That speaks volumes about the future of New York City. We can create extraordinary things right here, of and by and for New Yorkers. The Navy Yard to me is just always a very moving place to be because of its amazing history. Because of the way the Navy Yard did so much for this country. But also because I, during COVID, when I wanted to get inspired that we would fight our way through to a better day, I just had to come to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. And David you'll remember, we saw amazing things here.

[Applause]

We saw folks at the Navy Yard creating literally by hand, creating PPE when we couldn't find any place else to get it. And protecting the lives of our health care heroes and the amazing effort, Nanotronics and other partners to create ventilators, to create the equipment to help people breathe. When we couldn't get any place else, we said, let's do it right here in New York City. And it actually happened. So, there's something special and inspiring here. I want to thank everyone who's been part of ensuring that the Navy Yard continues to be a crucial part of Brooklyn and New York City, everyone who supported this effort. Of course, our Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, Vicki Been. Thank you.

[Applause]

Our now Transportation Commissioner, who used to be the chair of the board right here at the Navy Yard, Hank Gutman. Thank you so much.

[Applause]

I want to thank the President and CEO of the Navy Yard. I know he is a true believer in this place and he's done so much to connect the Navy Yard to surrounding communities and get opportunity for Brooklynites right here. David Ehrenberg, thank you.

[Applause]

A special thank you, because there's a great partnership here with Medgar Evers College to create jobs for young people. I want to thank Jo-Ann Rolle from Medgar Evers College for joining us.

[Applause]

And Matthew is passionate, and he believes in this and you could hear it. Let's give credit where credit is due. Also, his dad gets some of the credit, President of Nanotronics, John Putman, thank you.

[Applause]

The City supported what you saw here today, investment of over $3 million to help build the space out so we could have these manufacturing jobs. But that investment's going to generate more than ten times that much in economic activity. Hundreds of jobs in the coming years, it's going to be a place for us to offer a chance for all that amazing talent that's growing up in New York City. We talk about STEM all the time. We're teaching more and more young people STEM skills, but there's got to be a place for those skills to be used. And that's what you see right here before your eyes. So, this is a glimpse of the future. And I want you to hear from one of my colleagues in government, who's joined us because he and I are both passionate about creating opportunity for all Brooklynites, all New Yorkers. And if we're going to develop a new economy, it also has to be a more inclusive economy. And this is something he has focused so much of his energies on in the City Council. I want to get him up here to say a few words. Council Member Robert Cornegy.

[...]

Robert Cornegy, for some reason, chose a hockey analogy for an 80-degree day. Skating to where the puck will be. But it's a very fine analogy because you're right. See over the horizon and that is what Nanotronics has been doing. But that's what the Brooklyn Navy Yard has been doing now for years, seeing what could be and getting there first. And this is one of the places – I think the story is known, but I don't think it's known the way it should be. Because this is a model of both understanding where the economy is going and making sure it's going to happen right here in New York City. But also constantly bringing the community into it. It's a very egalitarian model and a powerful model. Whole idea here of ensuring that as we create an entirely new industry, it's for everyone. And I want to give a lot of credit to everyone at the Navy Yard, but I know this has been a labor of love for the President and CEO. So, I welcome David Ehrenberg.

[...]

All right. I just want to say we're about to have an exciting ribbon cutting over here. And I have an unbeaten streak going. You know, this is my eighth year as Mayor. I see – just hold up the giant scissors there for a moment, everyone can see. So far I have not cut off any one's appendage with giant scissors, eight years running now. So, I just want to add a little drama here. You know, will we get through this one safely again? I'm feeling really good about this. You'll all get to witness. We're going to have a great ribbon cutting, a very good day for New York City. Ready? All right.

[Mayor de Blasio participates in ribbon-cutting ceremony]

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